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Okay, if you’ve ever tried to write a synopsis, you know that the title of this post is a big, fat lie. Synopses are hard to write. How do you whittle a 400 page book down to a few pages? How can you convey the brilliance of your characters in such little space?
I detest trying to write synopses. Hate them! But, like spam and taxes, they seem to be a part of life, particularly if you’re interested in getting a novel-length work published. Well, the publishing gods have named today Synopsis Day and there will be much rejoicing in the streets! Okay, maybe a little joyous reading in the blogosphere. Either way, today, 22 published authors write about how to create an effective synopsis. Want to read along? Here they are:
Maria V. Snyder: http://blog.myspace.com/mariavsnyder
Patricia Bray: http://www.sff.net/people/patriciabray/synopsis.html
Chaz Brenchley: http://desperance.livejournal.com
Mike Brotherton: http://www.mikebrotherton.com
Tobias Buckell: http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2008/02/01/ask-me-a-question-was-crystal-rain-sold-as-part-of-a-series
S.C.Butler: http://scbutler.livejournal.com
Barbara Campbell: www.barbara-campbell.com/inside.htm
David B. Coe: http://davidbcoe.livejournal.com
Jennifer Dunne: http://jennifer_dunne.livejournal.com
S.L. Farrell: http://sleigh.livejournal.com
Diana Francis: http://difrancis.livejournal.com
Gregory Frost: http://frostokovich.livejournal.com
Felix Gilman: http://www.felixgilman.com/wordpress
Jim C. Hines: http://jimhines.livejournal.com
Jackie Kessler: http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog
Mindy Klasky: http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com
Misty Massey: http://madkestrel.livejournal.com
C.E. Murphy: http://mizkit.livejournal.com
Naomi Novik: http://naominovik.livejournal.com
Joshua Palmatier: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com
Jennifer Stevenson: http://smokingpigeon.livejournal.com
Michelle West: http://msagara.livejournal.com
Sean Williams: http://ladnews.livejournal.com
Read and learn! 
Egads, this is fabulous!
Synopsis is always a pain, thanks for this!
I’ve just discovered your blog via Blog Catalog, and I love it!
I very much agree with your opinions. It is so difficult to shorten masterpieces because we have put so much effort into creating witty lines and subplots to compliment our main plot that we cannot bear to cut them out!
Working backwards is much easier but that doesn’t really count; Orson Scott Card’s novel Ender’s Game started as a short story.
Keep posting!!!
-Rika
very helpful blog. keep this up.
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